Lexic.us

Definition of Scarce

1. Adjective. Deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand. "Fresh vegetables were scarce during the drought"

2. Adverb. Only a very short time before. "Would have scarce arrived before she would have found some excuse to leave"

Definition of Scarce

1. a. Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon.

2. adv. With difficulty; hardly; scantly; barely; but just.

Definition of Scarce

1. Adjective. Uncommon, rare; difficult to find; insufficient to meet a demand. ¹

2. Adverb. (context: now literary archaic) Scarcely, only just. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Scarce

1. infrequently seen or found [adj SCARCER, SCARCEST]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Scarce

scarabaean scarabaei scarabaeid scarabaeid beetle scarabaeoid scarabaeus scarabaeuses scarabee scarabees scarablike

scaraboid scarabs scarabæid scaramouches scarbroite scarce (current term) scarce copper scarcely scarcement scarcements

scarceness scarcenesses scarcer scarcest scarcities scarcity scard scardey cat scardey cats scards

Literary usage of Scarce

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Publications by English Dialect Society (1850)
"... and even wood was grown so scarce that the French Intendant at Galway, proposed the sending bisket rather than meal, there not being wherewithal! to ..."

2. Publications by English Dialect Society (1875)
"scarce. scarcely. Illustration of:— ' Not one of 'em perhaps with the ... of a team o' horses of his own scarce.'—Chronicles of a Clay Farm, p. 160. ..."

3. Publications by Oxford Historical Society (1907)
"What made it so scarce was the BP'» buying all he could up. io said he bought this for his Brother Charles. ..."

Other Resources: